Should you visit Dali or Chongqing?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dali and Chongqing can help you decide which place is right for you.
Dali
Dali is a city in southern China with a long and glorious history dating back to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Xiaguan neighborhood of the city is the modern industrial center where most public transportation arrives; however, the Old Town of Dali is the place that draws the most visitors. Being one of China's ancient cities, Dali is said to have been a gateway to the Silk Road, and still attracts attention with its traditional architecture, beautiful scenery, ethnic cultures, and nightlife.
Chongqing
Chongqing, China is a large city in central China and one of only four cities in the country that are not part of a province. While Chongqing is famous for being an economically important city, brush away its industrial surface and you'll find a naturally beautiful city with plenty of hidden wonders. Although you'll find many expats in the city, English is rarely spoken, meaning knowing some basic Mandarin will come in handy.
Which city is cheaper, Chongqing or Dali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Dali is $43, while the average daily cost in Chongqing is $77. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Dali and Chongqing in more detail.
Accommodation
Double occupancy rooms typically run around $30 in Dali For nicer amenities and a premiere location, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Accommodation prices vary by location and style, but travelers pay on average about $88 for a double occupancy room in Chongqing.
Food
The average traveler spends about $16 per day in Dali for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
In Chongqing travelers spend around $22 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Dali $16
Chongqing $22
Typical Food prices in Dali
For Dali, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch
$4.97
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Breakfast
$3.88
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dali
For Dali, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Chengdu Private Food Tour (With Visit to Kuanzhai Alley and Hotpot Experience):
$32
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Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum and Sanxingdui Museum Private Day Tour with Hotpot Dinner:
$76
-
Dim Sum Cooking Class and Wet Market Visit in Shanghai:
$78
-
Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$80
-
Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class:
$83
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Beijing Food Culture & Cooking Class:
$137
-
1-Day Dali Baba Cooking and Cruise Tour:
$150
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chongqing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chongqing.
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Chengdu Private Food Tour (With Visit to Kuanzhai Alley and Hotpot Experience):
$32
-
Chengdu Jinsha Site Museum and Sanxingdui Museum Private Day Tour with Hotpot Dinner:
$76
-
Dim Sum Cooking Class and Wet Market Visit in Shanghai:
$78
-
Beijing Hutong Evening Food Tour by Tuk Tuk:
$80
-
Chengdu Panda Base Private Day Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class:
$83
-
Chongqing Liangjiang Night Cruise Including Authentic Hot Pot Dinner:
$86
-
Beijing Food Culture & Cooking Class:
$137
-
Chongqing City private night tour with Hot Pot dinner:
$148
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Chongqing Port Transfer Service with Half-Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner:
$193
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From Port Transfer with Half Day Tour and Hot Pot Dinner:
$197
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250 USD Per Group Private Chongqing Night Tour with Hot-pot Dinner:
$213
Local Transportation
Dali's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $8.27 per person, per day on transportation in Dali.
While taxis and private drivers typically cost much more than public transportation, people usually spend around $17 per day to get around in Chongqing.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Dali
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dali:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dali
Also for Dali, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Airport Transfers (SHA/PVG) for Shanghai (Multiple Car Models):
$38
-
Badaling Great Wall in Beijing Private Transfer:
$43
-
Dali Airport Chauffeur Service,Dali Airport Transfer:
$40
-
Longji Rice Terraced Fields and Minority Villages Tour with Transfer from Guilin or Yangshuo:
$108
-
Luxury Private Shanghai Pudong International Airport Transfers (PVG) for Downtown Shanghai:
$118
-
Luxury private Baiyun International Airport Transfers (CAN) for Guangzhou :
$74
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Luxury private Bao'an International Airport Transfers (SZX) for Downtown Shenzhen:
$67
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Luxury private Beijing Capital International Airport Transfers (PEK) for Downtown Beijing:
$74
-
Luxury private Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport Transfers (SHA) for Downtown Shanghai:
$59
-
One Way Private Transfer between Shanghai City and Xitang Scenic Area:
$119
-
One Way Private Transfer between Shanghai and Zhujiajiao Scenic Area :
$94
-
One Way Private Transfers between Shanghai and Zhouzhuang Scenic Area:
$94
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chongqing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chongqing:
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[Up to 20% Off] Private City Transfers for Mutianyu Great Wall in Beijing :
$23
-
[Up to 15% Off for Round Trip Transfers] Private Beijing Capital Airport Transfers (PEK) for Beijing :
$37
-
Yangshuo and Li River Highlights Day Tour with Transfers:
$111
-
Three Gorges Cruises with Transfer in Chongqing and Yichang:
$466
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Shared Shenzhen Airport (SZX) Coach Transfers for Hong Kong (Trans-Island):
$12
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Shared Hong Kong International Airport Transfers (HKG) for Shenzhen:
$15
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Shared Coach Transfers between Shunde and Hong Kong:
$14
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Shared Coach Transfers between Shenzhen Bay Port and Hong Kong (Trans-island):
$6.45
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Shared Coach Transfers between Panyu and Hong Kong by Eternal East Bus:
$11
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Shared Coach Transfers between Hong Kong and Huadu by Eternal East Bus:
$13
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Shared Coach Transfers between Foshan and Hong Kong by Eternal East Bus:
$13
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Shared Coach Transfers between Foshan and Hong Kong:
$14
Is it cheaper to fly into Dali or Chongqing?
Prices for flights to both Chongqing and Dali change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Dali can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $16 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Activities, things to do, and other forms of entertainment usually cost around $12 per person, per day in Chongqing. This cost includes the price of admission tickets to attractions and museums as well as daily tours.
Tours and Activities in Dali
For Dali, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Hupao Park Ticket in Hangzhou (For Mainland China ID Holders):
$2.35
-
China Red Sandalwood Museum Ticket in Beijing :
$2.79
-
Simatai Great Wall Admission with Cable Car Ticket in Beijing:
$3.09
-
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base Ticket Chengdu - ID Card Direct Entry:
$4.19
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Evergreen Resort Ticket in Shenzhen:
$6.19
-
Jinxi Ancient Town Attractions Combo Ticket:
$6.99
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Gulangyu Seashell Museum Ticket:
$7.45
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Wuyishan Xiamei Ancient Village Admission Ticket:
$8.55
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Ferry Round Trip Ticket between Xiamen City and Gulangyu Sanqiutian Pier:
$8.55
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Ferry Round Trip Ticket between Xiamen City and Gulangyu Neicuoao Pier:
$8.55
-
Shanghai Joy City Rooftop Ferris Wheel - Sky Ring Ticket:
$9.29
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Guangdong First Peak Ticket:
$9.29
Tours and Activities in Chongqing
Here are a few actual costs in Chongqing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
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Lionsgate Entertainment World Ticket in Henqin Zhuhai :
$31
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1 Day Private Tour of Chongqing Highlights Including lunch and Optional Photo in Sichuan Opera Costume:
$114
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1 Day Private Tour of Most Beautiful Heishan Valley in Chongqing Including Lunch:
$166
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1 Day Private Tour of Wulong Stone Bridges and Canyon in Chongqing Including Lunch:
$195
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1-Day Chongqing City Private Tour with the Hot pot Lunch:
$150
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1-Day Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings Private Tour With the Lunch:
$230
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1-Day Private Tour: Wulong Tiankeng Three Bridges and Fairy Mountain:
$366
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199 USD Per Group Private Chongqing City Hiking Tour:
$199
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2 Days Shanghai Private Tour:
$178
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2-Day Private Customized Harbin Tour from Chongqing by Air:
$958
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2-Day Private Lijiang Highlights Tour from Chongqing by Plane:
$798
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2-Day Private Tour from Chongqing with Hotel:Shaolin Temple and Longmen Grottoes:
$798
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Dali spend on average $9.93 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Chongqing may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $6.21 per day on alcoholic beverages.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dali and Chongqing, we can see that Chongqing is more expensive. And not only is Dali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dali and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Chongqing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Chongqing than you might in Dali.
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